Toshiba, the Japanese electronics giant, has debuted a battery alternative which uses a mixture of water and methanol to create power. Able to recharge portable gadgets such as music devices or mobile phones, they said that the Dynario fuel cell could triple a gadgets battery life.
Producing only 3000 units for the first run of the product, Toshiba explained that if the 29,800 yen (£195) Dynario sold well enough they would consider manufacturing more. In addition to the fuel cell, consumers will have to pay a predicted 3,150yen (£21) for five refills of methanol to power the Dynario.
Explaining the mechanics, Toshiba said that approximately 20 seconds after the Dynario had the methanol/water base placed inside, it was ready to power gadgets. With each refill creating the power to run approximately two mobile phone batteries, power is passed from the Dynario to the portable gadget via USB. Meanwhile a lithium battery inside the unit is capable of storing extra power that is being created.
With an empty weight of 280g, the Dynario will only be available within Japan on Toshiba’s website store, Shop 1048, for its initial run. Available from October 29th, it is not the first alternative fuel cell on the market. Whilst Toshiba has held back on placing fuel cell products on the market until now, both Germany’s SFC and America’s Medis Technologies have had similar gadgets in the marketplace.
